Panchkula: Currently serving a 20-year prison sentence in Haryana's Sunaria Jail, Dera Sacha Sauda chief and self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is likely to be ordered to spend many more years in prison, for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. A special CBI court today announced the 'guilty' verdict in the case where the sect chief was named as the prime accused. The sect chief was present for the sentencing via video-conferencing from the Sunaria jail.

The quantum of the sentencing will be announced on January 17. All four including Dera carpenters Nirmal Singh and Kuldeep Singh who shot Chhatrapati, Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and Krishan Lal who owned the gun which was used in the assassination have been convicted by a special CBI court in Panchkula.

Chhatrapati, the editor of a regional evening daily 'Poora Such' was shot dead at point-blank range on October 24, 2002 right outside his home in Sirsa, Haryana. An investigation into the matter revealed that he was murdered in cold blood by two carpenters who were associated with the religious sect led by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Investigators believed that Chhatrapati was killed after he published an anonymous letter in his evening daily. The letter was reportedly written by a 'sadhvi' who alleged that the Dera chief sexually abused her and other female disciples.

(Followers of the Dera praying for their leader's bail in August of 2017 when he was found guilty of rape)

Following the release of the letter, an inquiry was initiated into the allegations by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on September 22, 2002. Less than a month later, the man who was responsible for exposing the sect chief and his heinous actions was shot right outside his home by Nirmal Singh and Kuldeep Singh. Chhatrapati was taken to the Apollo Hospital in New Delhi where he succumbed to his wounds on November 21, 2002. His family sought a CBI probe into his death in 2003.

#Haryana: Kamaldeep Goel, DCP Panchkula over security arrangements near CBI Spl Court in Panchkula: There is heavy deployment of police force. Around 500 personnel are deployed around the premises of the court. Heavy barricading has been put in place. #RamRahimpic.twitter.com/RfT2qWx2j2

In the wake of the verdict over the murder trial where Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is the main accused, Haryana police have deployed additional troops in Panchkula and Rohtak among other districts. Panchkula, where the verdict will be pronounced, has been put on high alert and Section 144 imposed across the district.

(Followers of the religious sect, Dera Sacha Sauda gathering in Panchkula ahead of the verdict in August of 2017)

The measures were imposed in light of the actions by Dera Sacha Sauda's followers in August of 2017 when their leader was pronounced guilty of raping two female disciples and awarded 20 years in prison by a special CBI court. Patrons of the sect had gone on a rampage in the otherwise quiet town of Panchkula, burning homes and injuring civilians in their wake. As a result, 41 casualties were reported from the district.​

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